Articles

AGBU TAROUHI-HOVAGIMIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ARMENIA

For the past three years, the best pupils of the AGBU Tarouhi-Hovagimian School of Beirut are rewarded with one week in their historic Motherland, sightseeing and becoming better acquainted with Armenia’s past and present. This year, 23 pupils, led by their teacher Hayarpi Hajian-Cherechian traveled throughout Armenia, visiting the Armenian Alphabet Park, Armenian Genocide Museum and Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, Garni Temple, Geghard and Khor Virap Monasteries, Lake Sevan, Noravank Monastery, Sardarapat Memorial and Museum, Tatev Monastery, Tsakhadzor, and Yerablur. No visit to Armenia is complete without a visit to the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. The students and their teacher attended mass at the cathedral and toured the Alex and Marie Manoogian Treasury Museum. Something exciting is always taking place in Armenia. During their visit, students cheered Armenia’s football team during the Armenia-Denmark match, and attended the always-magnificent performance of the Tatoul Altounian State Music and Dance Ensemble. On September 10, the Tarouhi-Hovagimian schoolchildren visited AGBU Armenia, where they met with AGBU Armenia Director Arpi Vartanian and Deputy Director Hovig Eordekian, and became acquainted with AGBU activities. They met with Armenian Virtual College (AVC) representatives. They also visited the Nork Children’s Center to enjoy a concert prepared by the children. The Nork Children’s Center is a joint project of AGBU and the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. Nine of the students also perform with the AGBU-AYA Beirut Arin Dance Ensemble, led by Artistic Director and Choreographer Gayane Matsunian. These students attended a ceremony at the RA Ministry of Culture, during which the ensemble was honored for its efforts to spread and preserve the Armenian national culture, and for its considerable contributions to instilling Armenian values in Diasporan youth. Deputy Minister of Culture Arthur Poghosyan presented Ms. Matsunian the certificate.